Edhat Staff
Biodegradable cups (photo: wikimedia)
Last Tuesday, the City of Santa Barbara Ordinance Committee voted to ban the sale and use of styrofoam in the city. This Tuesday is the final vote.
A unanimous vote took place on June 12 as the committee agreed styrofoam contributes to ocean pollution. The final vote was put on hold until June 19 so they could consider adding an “ask only” regulation for plastic straws and cutlery.
“We applaud the Committee for these decisions – it is an important step that Santa Barbara can take to remove itself from being a contributor to the plastic ocean waste epidemic,” wrote Hillary Hauser from local environmental group Heal the Ocean.
Exemptions are being considered for businesses who claim “hardship” in discontinuing their use of styrofoam. Blenders in the Grass is one local company who states their smoothie products become “runny” in anything but their tall white signature styrofoam cups after they switched to plastic cups several years ago. The company switched back after losing revenue.
In a written statement, Hauser explained how Heal the Ocean is against these exemptions. She cited the Kokua Foundation in Hawaii who learned their local juice company, as well as Jamba Juice, use compostable cold cups made of PLA (plant-based Polylactic acid) – made of corn starch and sugar cane.
Further, the activist group stated that Marborg, Santa Barbara’s recycling and waste management company, cannot reuse or recycle styrofoam and it heads to the landfill.
The ordinance meeting is taking place on Tuesday, June 19 at 12:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber of City Hall.
I recently picked over 20 straws out of the sand at the beach in one day. This is the right move.
both sides of this have good arguments…however…
“In a written statement, Hauser explained how Heal the Ocean is against these exemptions. She cited the Kokua Foundation in Hawaii who learned their local juice company, as well as Jamba Juice, use compostable cold cups made of PLA (plant-based Polylactic acid) – made of corn starch and sugar cane.”
Yes i’ve used these cups. they literally disintegrate before you can finish the drink that you just paid for. The straws break down faster and when dealing with frozen product, the cup and straw have to be more rigid and firm. there is a reason it’s not used widely. Seems most of the environmentalists just want to argue against it’s use but offer no alternative. Would you prefer companies like blenders and jamba juice go out of business and we start slinging cornsyrup sodas again and roll back the clock to 1979? Think before you bark. Otherwise you’re just making noise. I have been to these” 3rd world” nations. India is far from a 3rd world….they were moving about 1000s of years prior to the states forming. Plastic is a worldwide problem, not just Santa Barbara. Thinking Santa Barbara’s potential ban would save something or help is a joke. We’re a mere drop in the bucket. We are also not the first communities to consider this.
Per Wikipedia: Styrofoam is a trademarked brand (Dow Chemical) of closed-cell extruded polystyrene foam (XPS), commonly called “Blue Board” manufactured as foam continuous building insulation board used in walls, roofs, and foundations as thermal insulation and water barrier. If the actual ordinance just outlaws “styrofoam” cups then foam cups will continue to be used.
Channel Islands Surfboards, one of the most prolific surfboard manufacturers in the world, is not going to be happy but then most surfers merely give lip service to caring for the environment as they drive to and fro in search of a better break or jet across the planet in search of that epic lineup .
RHS & PKWW, thank you. I never had plastic straws growing up, they were paper and worked just fine. There was no Styrofoam but somehow life worked very well.